Southern Italy

Question 1

List four of the grape varieties associated with Campania

Answer 1

Aglianico
Falanghina
Fiano
Greco

Question 2

List three of the grapes associated with Sardinia

Answer 2

Cannonau
Carignano
Vermentino

Question 3

List four of the grapes associated with Sicily

Answer 3

Nerello Mascalese
Nero d’Avola
Grillo
Inzolia or Ansonica
Moscato
Carricante
Catarratto

Question 4

List three of the grapes associated with Puglia

Answer 4

Primitivo
Nero di Troia
Negroamaro

Question 5

What are the three main soil types in Campania

Answer 5

• Alluvial sediments
• Volcanic and sandy soils
• Limestone and clay soils

Question 6

List the soil types for the following areas in Campania:
* Sannio DOC
* Beneventano IGP
* Campi Flegrei DOC
* Vesuvio DOC
* Fiano di Avellino DOCG
* Greco di Tufo DOCG
* Taurasi DOCG

Answer 6

Sannio DOC: Alluvial sediments

Beneventano IGP: Alluvial sediments

Campi Flegrei DOC: Volcanic and sandy soils

Vesuvio DOC: Volcanic and sandy soils

Fiano di Avellino DOCG: Limestone and clay soils

Greco di Tufo DOCG: Limestone and clay soils

Taurasi DOCG: Limestone and clay soils

Question 7

Give a tasting note for Fiano

Answer 7

• The wines have medium (-) to medium intensity floral, peach and hazelnut aromas and flavours
• medium (+) body
• medium to medium (+) acidity and a waxy texture.

Question 8

What is the name of the most important DOC in Basilicata?

Answer 8

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Question 9

Give a description of Puglia Nero di Troia

Answer 9

• medium intensity red cherry and redcurrant fruit with a black pepper note
• high but fine-grained tannins
• medium (+) acidity.

Question 10

Give a description of Puglia Negroamaro

Answer 10

• black plum and black cherry fruit
• medium to high alcohol
• medium acidity
• medium (+) tannins
• The variety is also used to make rosé wines (rosato, deep pink orange in colour).

Question 11

Give a description of Puglia Primitivo

Answer 11

• medium (+) to pronounced, ripe to jammy red cherry and strawberry fruit
• medium acidity
• medium to medium (+) tannin.
• Quality is across the range from acceptable to outstanding wines.

Question 12

Using bullet points, briefly describe the three styles of Moscato made on Pantelleria.

Answer 12

The three styles of Moscato made on Pantelleria are:

1. Dry: fermented in stainless steel, released early to retain aromatic Muscat character
2. Late harvest: picked a week later than for dry wines with the fermentation being stopped to retain residual sugar for a sweet style
3. Passito: made with semi-dried grapes, traditionally sun-dried, with high levels of residual sugar.

Question 13

Identify the name of Sicily’s only DOCG.

Answer 13

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Question 14

Which form of vine training is a requirement for Carignano del Sulcis Superiore DOC?

Answer 14

Bush vines

Question 15

What is the Sardinian name for the Grenache Noir grape variety?

Answer 15

Cannonau

Question 16

Compare and contrast the structure of the wine industries in Campania and Basilicata.

Answer 16

Both regions have private estates and co-operative wineries. Both have important and large co-operatives (Settesoli in Sicily and La Guardiense in Campania), Campania has some large private companies with vineyards in multiple denominations and provinces. Mastroberardino pioneered the commercialisation of the Campanian grape varieties. By contrast, Sicily has a relatively small number of large and influential companies (Planeta, Donnafugata and Tasca d’Almerita), unlike the pattern of ownership in the rest of Italy.